Wrangell fisherman Jared Gross reveals a clutch of eggs being carried under the abdominal flap of a female golden king crab, before returning it to the sea. Found throughout the Aleutian Islands and Alaska's southern coastline, the species is a source of food for a wide variety of fish, octopuses, otters, other crabs, and even several new types of nemertean worms. Once the state's top shellfish industry, due to falling numbers in Southeast Alaska, the region's commercial red king crab fishery has been closed since 2006. Its personal use red king crab fishery continues in limited areas, and closes March 31. It reopens again July 1.
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